Means for opening or closing sliding windows and the like



Aug. 31 1926.- 1,598,021

H. SMITH MEANS FOR OPENING OR CLOSING SLIDING WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 2 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. J/m'th mummy Aug. 31, 1926.

H. SMITH MEANS FOR OPENING 0R CLOSING SLIDING WINDOWS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 hr w WWW IV d awn/r0 2 HEN SMITH, OF

IEEANS FOR OIZTENING CLOSIZFIG Application filed November 2, 1925, Serial No.

This invention relates to windows and like sliding members adapted to be opened or closed by aid of a weight or resilient means.

The invention is particularly applicable to windows for motor cars, trains, ships cabins or saloons and the like. It may also be mployed in connection with sash windows for buildings or horizontally moving sliding windows, doors, panels or shutters, which may hereinafter be conveniently classed as windows.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for opening and closing windows so that such may be locked or maintained in position when opened or closed and arrested and locked or held in any intermediate position. lt is also an obj ect of the invention to provide means whereby the arrestation and locking of the window may be automatic or controllable in either or both directions of movement.

According to the invention the arresting and locking means comprise a member adapted to move or rotate in one direction or another as the window is opened and closed, an abutment element or device and a shoe or wedge operating between the abutment and the member in such a manner that the relative movement and contact between the parts causes the shoe to be drawn into increasing fr'ctional contact with "the member as it moves in one direction, with a wedge-like action, while in the other direction of move ment the men'iber and shoe slide relatively with little or no retarding effect.

The arresting or locking means may be combined with a spring (preferably a volute or coiled spring) adapted to cause the movement of the window in one direction, associated with a transverse shaft operatively connected with the window so'that upon the rotation of the shaft under the influence ofthe spring the window is raised or moved across its opening and, conversely, as the window is lowered (or moved backward) the spring is tensioned.

A feature of the invention lies in the combination of the spring raising or lowering means with the arresting and locking device so tha the latter operates automath cally to arrest and temporarily look the window in any position in which it may be moved by the operator against the tension of the spring, the arrangement being such that upon relieving the pressure or effort dis- .Lonncn, ENGLAND.

smnrne WINDOWS AND THE LIKE.

66,374, and in Great Britain December 3, 1924.

placing the window, the action of the spring, which normally tends to return the Window, causes the locking means (for example, the brake shoe) automatically to come into operation (viz by reason of the shoe wedging between the abutment and its associated member) The means adapted for raising or lowering and locking the window may be mounted upon a panel which is applied transversely of the window, thereby facilitating the zip plication of the invention from a constructional point of view and enabling such to be more readily applied to existing windows.

The locking device may be under the control of a person desiring to open or close the window by aid of a handle, knob Or other manipulating device adapted to act upon the shoe or an associated part to adjust its position or otherwise to cause it to function as desired. 'The manipulating means should preferably be provided with. a limited adjustment movement in order that the control may be confined to the purpose required or so that conditions cannot arise that allow the window free movement, such as might cause damage or injury.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a motor car or like door fitted with a slidin window and illustrating window raising and controlling means applied thereto according to the invention. 7

Figure 2 is an enlarged section of the part adjacent the sill of the window and door seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation taken through the middle portion of the arrangement shown in Figure 2.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode as applied, byway of example, to vertically sliding windows for a motor car door, the window A may be mounted in the door B and adapted to slide in guide grooves according to usual practice. The window frame adjacent or in the region of the sill C (Figure 1) is provided with a panel (of wood, metal or other suitable material) or box-like casing 1 extending from side to side thereof. This panel member may be made detachable from the permanent framework for instance at the upper edge. Within or at the back of the panel member 2 suitable bearings are provided which are adapted to carry a rotatable transverse shaftB.

of the window. It is preferred that the cord should be wound up on the pulley or roller in a series of laterally ad acent laps.

Where a belt or wire is employed it is preferred that such should be connected to brackets, stays or projections 6 formed upon or carried by a metal or other channelshaped piece 6, adapted to extend across and receive the bottom edge of the window glass.

The window frame is provided with the usual guiding grooves for the reception of the lateral margins of the window or window glass so that the latter may slide vertically therein and it will be understood that'upon rotation of the transverse shaft in one direction, the window will be raised through the pulley or like means t and cords 5. The force adapted to cause the rotation lot the transverse shaft may be derived from a spring or springs which act in a manner well. known to cause the raising or lowcring of the window according to the direction in which the spring is adapted to operate.

According to the preferred mode the inner end of a volute spring 7 is anchored to a sleeve or collar '7" fixed upon the transverse shaft 1 while the outer end is anchored to the panel or door fixture. I

in operation it will be understood that by depressing or lowering the window, the volutespring is tensioned or wound up and when pressure is relieved from the window the latter will unwind, causing the rotation of the shaft and the raising of the window according to a manner already well known.

In order to control the movement of the .window under the influence of the spring, a brake drum member 8 is rigidly formed upon or fixed to the shaft, and a brake. shoe 9 adapted to co-operate with the drum. This shoe is preferably of elongated arcuate V viedge shape having a concave lnner and-a convex outer surface. The inner surface may be lined with. the material known under the reg1stered trade mark as Ferodo orother suitable brake surface material may be provided. a An abutment l0is provided for the brake shoe, which may be formed or mounted upon a casing or bracket member, such as 9, and arranged so that the brake shoe when adjusted to a contact position against the drum 8 is displaced or drawn inv between the abutment and the drum brake surface with a wedging action' asthe drum rotates in one direction but which in the other'dlrecspring 10 may be effected.

naeaom tion of rotation allows the drum to slide over the shoe surface.

The shoe is connected to a spring-controlled plunger 10, the spring 10 of which may be disposed in a cylindrical extension 10 of the casing'or bracket 9, the spring being adapted constantly to tend to push the shoe in between the abutment and the drum. The casing may be provided with a screwed cap 10 in order to adjust the compression of the spring'or, alternatively, any other suitable means may be employed whereby the adjustment of the brake shoe The shoe 9 may be directly connected to the plunger 10 or a link may be provided for this purpose.

It is of importance to provide a device whereby the extent of the outward movement and, preferably, the inward movement of the shoe, may be limited, and to this end the plunger or plunger rod connected to the shoe may be provided with or operated in conjunction with a stop a or other like means for confining the movement of the shoe in the outward or both directions. Any suitable means may be provided for controlling or adjusting the position of the shoe by an operator. These means may be of the type which requires manipulation to effect displacement of the shoe in one direction but which allows the shoe to returnwhen released, the displacement of the brake shoe being co-extensive with the period for which the operator holds the manipulating means.

According to a simple form of manipulation control means, a pivoted lever 11 having a knob or handle 11 may be connected at one end through a slot 11 with the end of the plunger 10. 'lVhen the knob 11 is pressed the shoe 9 is withdrawn so that the drum 8 is disengaged and the shaft 3 is free to be rotated by the spring 7. When pressure is withdrawn from the knob the springlG" restores the lever 11 and the shoe to its initial or inward position so that the rotation of the drum 8 and the shaft 3 is arrested.

The initial or setting up adjustments of lam the shoe, it resides in a position in whlch it is out of contact with the drum or, alternatively, still in contact therewith but so that l the drum will rotate relatively thereto with little friction so that movement in this direction is comparatively unrestrained or only sufiicient braking effect should take place as to enable or ensure that the window rises at a suitable rate and not too quickly. Further, the adjustment must be such that when the rotation of the drum is in'the 0 p posite direction and conditions are otherwise favourable, the shoe, by reason of the contact and relative movement, is drawn more or less sharply in between the abutment and the drum, developing an increasing irictiona'l restraint upon the movement thereof which almost in'imediately is sufficient to arrest the rotation of the drum and check the window. The inward limit of movement of the shoe should be such as to prevent the latter from being drawn into a position in which it might become jammed and could not readily be retracted by the manipnl ative means.

In operation, assuming that the window is in the lowered position, the spring in its tensioned condition and the brake shoe in the retarding or locking position the window may be caused, by a manipulative action on the part of 'tlieope 'ator eiiecting the witl'idrawal oi the shoe, to rise under the force of the shaft spring,'the rate. of inovcment being controlledaccording to the degree of withdrawal of the brake shoe. i' i hen the window reaches the top the inaiiipulating means may be released it such are of the character which requires the attentionot the opertor while the window is 'l"lSl1'1g,*O1 the manipulating device is readjusted it such be of the kind that "requires adjustment in both directions. Alternatively, the spring may be relied upon to maintain the window in the fully raised or closed position while the ii'ianipulating means are left in a position in which the shoe is away-or partially away from the drum.

'l' i hile the window is rising it maybe checked in any intermediate position by a suitable operation or release of the manipulating means.

ll ien it is desired to lower the window the application of a downward pressure upon the window itself or upon an appropriate handle causes the windowtoclescend against the'tension of the spring. The reliei of this pressure when the window reaches its fully open position or in any intermediate position between the fully closed and fully open position, causes the spring to react to tend to raise the window but owing to the automatic operation of the brake shoe this tendency is immediately checked by reason of the brake shoe intervening between the abutment and the brake drum under the action of the shoe spring, the pressure oi the window raising spring causing the retarding action of the shoe to operate as a lock.

hem itis desired to raise the window from an intermediate position, the brake shoe *hdrawn by the manipulating is Yilt means and the window will rise under the action of the spring. Should it be desired to lower the window, the application of pressure thereto will cause the rotation of the shaftand drum to be reversed and the shoe automatically to be set back, whereby the window may be pushed down to its fully open position when the automatic locking characteristics again come into play. 7

Having now describedniy invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is zv 1. A device for opening and closing windows "and the like of the kind described comprising inotive means for causing the movement of the window, a rotary member operatively connected with the window, a brake member adapted to have a wedgelike braking action against the rotary member to produce a braking and arresting action thereon in one direction otrotation and adjustable control means adapted to determine the operative function of the brake member.

2. A device for opening and closing winclows and the like of the kind described comprising motive means for causing the ai'iovei'iient ot the window, :a rotary brake member, an operative connection between the rotary brake member a nd the window, a brake shoe adapted to contact with the rotary brake member, abutment means associated with the rotary brake member so :that

the shoe may operate between the abutment means and the, rotary brake member with a wedg-ing action in one direction "of rotation and adjustable control means for deteianining the operative functions ot: the brake 3. A device for opening andclosing window's of the kind described comprising :a 1'0- tary member adapted to rotate first in one directionyand then in the other, and operatively connected with the window, spring motive means for closing the window and causing the rotation of the rotary :member in-one=direction, brake means adapted to cooperate with the rotary member and capable of arresting such in one direction of rotation thereof while in theother direction said brake means offer little frictional l'GSlSdllCQ, and adpistable control means lfor relieving the arresting action 01: the brake, the ar ra'n'genient being such that by the application of manual ipower'to the window it may be pushed open against the action of the spring motive means and such that the arresting action of the brake means automatically comes into operation upon the cessation of such opening movement by the reactive eiiect or the motive means so that the window is held in any adjusted position.

4:. A device for opening and closing windows and the like of the kind described comprising motive means for causing the movement of the window, a rotary member adapted to rotate first in one direction and then in the other, and operatively connected with the window, a brake member adapted to have a wedge-like action again-st the retary member to produce a braking and arresting action thereon in one direction of rotation, adjustable control means adapted lltl to determine the relief of the arresting action of the brake member, and means adapted to ensure frict onal contact betweenthe brake member and the rotary member when the Window is being moved by the motive means so as to prevent unrestrained movement liable to cause damage.

.5. A device for opening and closing windows and the like of the kind described comprising motive means for causing the movement of the window, a rotary brake memher, .an operative connection between the rotarybrake member and the window, a

brake shoe of curved wedge form adapted tocontact with the rotary brake member, a curved abutment associated with the rotary brake member so that the curved shoe may. operate with .a wedge-like action between the rotary brake member and the curved abutment upon which it is adapted to slide and adjustable means for determining the operative functions of the brake shoe.

, 6. A devicefor opening and closing windows of the kind described comprising motive means for causing the movement of the window, a rotary member adapted to ro- 'ing action operating a-g inst the tendency of the motive means to-return the window.

TVA device for opening and closing windows of the kind described comprising motive means for causing themovem-ent of the window, a rotary memberadapted to rotate first in one direction and then in the other and operatively connected with the window, g,

a. brake member of wedge-shape, spring means for thrusting the brake member into engagementwith the; rotary member, .means for adjusting the tension of said spring and adjustable control means for withdrawing said brake member.

8. A device for opening and closing windows oi the kind described comprising motive means for causing the movement of the wmdow, a rotary member adapted to rotate first n one direction and then 1n the other and operatively connected with the window, a brake member or wedge- ,shape thrust into engagement with the rotary member by spring means, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, adjustable control means for withdrawing said brake member and a stop device for limiting the extent to which the brake member may be withc rawn to preventits freeing the rotary member entirely.

9. A device for opening and closing windows and the like of the kind described comprising motive means for causing the movement of the window, a rotary member operatively connected with the window, av

brake member adapted to have a wedgelike braking and arresting action against the rotary member in one direction of rotation and an adjustable control having a lever action for determining the position of the brake member.

10. A device for opening and closing windows and the likeot the kind described comprising motive means tor causing the movement of the window, a rotary member operatively connected with the window, a brake member adapted to have a wedge-like braking and arresting action against the rotary member in one direction of rotation, and adjustable control means consisting" of a handle having .a partial rotary movement and adapted to exert a leverage for withdrawing the brake member in a direction away from the rotary member.

.In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificatlon.

. HENRY SMITH. 

